Pressure gauge



June 21, 1938. s. sALNlKov PRESSURE GAUGE "Filed June 29, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 21,1938. SfsALNmov y2,120,991

PRESSURE-GAUGE v Filed June 29, 1955 s sheets-sheet 2 Julie 21, 1938. 5. SALN|KOV I 2,120,991

PRESSURE GAUGE Filed June 29, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 use me 35 as Fig, 7, but showing how the points may follow Patented June 21, 1938 PATEN'Iy oFFlc-E PRESSURE GAUGE Ivan S. Salnikov.. Seminole, Okla., assignor to Standard Oil Development Company, a corporation of Delaware Application June 29, 1935, Serial No. 29,097 1s claims. (el. 'za-soo) This invention relates to improvements in a pressure gauge, and more particularly to improvements in the mechanism for rotating the chart of a subsurface 'pressure gauge.

It is an object of this invention to provide a 'turning mechanism operative by the pressure normally exerted on the gauge toturn the recording chart drum and when used in measuring subsurface pressures to obtain a number of pressure readings at the same location or at various locations inl the well in onerun covering the range from well head pressure toy bottom hole pressure.

Other objects will be apparent from 4the specication and from the accompanying drawings in which latter,

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view'through the pressure application end of a subsurface pressure gauge and embracing the chamber opening to the atmosphere; y

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view `.through the portion of the gauge constituting the closed chamber and containing the recording drum;

Fig. 3 is a detail longitudinal sectional view f showing' the apparatus for turning the recording along the line V-V of Fig. 3; ,30

chart drum; f

Fig. 4x is a longitudinal sectional view taken at right angles to the showing of Fig. 3; y

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view 'looking Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional vieu1 looking along the line VI-VI of Fig. 3;

Fig. '1 shows a chart made by taking a series of pressure readings between the top and bottom of a well, and

Fig. 8 shows a chart made yin the same manner around the chart instead of being in succession as in Fig. 6.

Referring to the drawings, a casing for' a well pressure gauge is 'shown comprising a section A which constitutesa closed recordingr chamber, Aand a section B which constitutes a spring containing chamber .opening to the atmosphere. Sections A and B are united at their adjoining ends by means of a wall or plug C whichvhas 'screw threaded engagement with the sections.

y'The recording chamber is closed at opposite ends by means of a nose piece l and the'plug C wherel by Athe contents of the recording chamber are maintained at any desired pressurepsuch as atmospheric pressure. The recording section contains a cylindrical recording drum.2-which is mounted for rotation, within the casing and is f driven by suitable mechanism to be later de- J scribed. Marking means including a stylus 3 engages recording paper 4 disposed upon the inner surface of the cylindrical drum 2 and records the diiference in pressure between the interior of the chamber B and the interior of the recording chamber A. The stylus is suitably supported by a mechanism, to be later described, for movement parallel with the longitudinal axisof the casing to record variations in the relative pressures of the iluid contents of the chambers. The pressure gauge is particularly adapted for use in a vertical position such as in an oil well, or the like, and is suspended by means of a oord 5 and fastening pin 6.

The positi-onof the stylus is recorded by means of a line formed by the stylus upon the recording paper and extending at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the recording drum. 'I'he recording drum is driven in rotation a fraction of a revolution by the pressure of the medium surrounding the pressure gauge whereby the stylus draws a short line upon the paper and the dis'- tance between this line and a base line drawn on the chart Vwhen the pressure in the spring containing chamber is atmospheric is a measure of the pressure at the time the recording drum is rotated.

the longitudinal axis of the casing to record the difference in pressure between the springl containing chamber B and the recording chamber A. The stylus is supported by a piston assembly including a shaft or piston Ill which extends slidably through a packing gland II in the plug C into the open chamber B of the casing. The packing gland II permits freelongitudinal reciprocating movement of the piston I While preventing iiuid communication between the chambers. The piston Il! is suspended by one end of a helical spring I2, the opposite end of which is in turn supported in xed position by means of a washer III. The washer I4 rests `on a shoulder I which protrudes into they in ner surface of the open chamber. The interiorof the open chamber communicates `with the atmosphere The recording drum 2 is supported for rotaryv movement by means of a ratchet member 25. The ratchet member 25 is supported for rotary movement by means of a ball bearing 26 which rests against a shoulder 21 in the inner wall of the casing. The ratchet 25 rigidly supports as by screw threads a collar 29 which in turn is secured to the drum 2 as, for example, by a force t. The cylindrical chart 4 is disposed within the drum 2 and is secured in place by means of a ferrule 30 secured to the free end of the drum 2. The stylus 3 for making a record upon the chart is secured in position within a slot 32 in the shaft I0 by means of a stylus spring 33.

The free end of the shaft 4lll carries a spiral turning screw 34 which passes through a slot 35 in an end wall 36 of a tubular ratchet member 31 so as to have driving connection with the ratchet to effect rotation of the ratchet member 31 upon longitudinal movement of the unit comprising shaft I0 and screw 34. Rotary movement of the ratchet member 31 is facilitated by ball bearings 38 interposed between the tubular portion of the ratchet 31 and the wall of the casing. The head of the ratchet member 31 is provided with ratchet teeth designated 40 which cooperate with dogs 42 pivotally protruding from the head of ratchet member 25. The ratchet spacer 44 surrounds the ratchet heads between the ball bearings 26 and 38. Upon longitudinal movement of the shaft I0 from the pressure chamber B into the recording chamber A, the teeth 40 slip freely -over the dogs42'. Upon reverse movement of the shaft I0, that is from recording chamber A to pressure chamber B, the teeth 40 are engaged by the dogs 42 whereby rotation of the recording drum 2 is eected. When pressure is exerted on the gauge in the Well and the turning screw 34 is moved longitudinally together with' the plunger or shaft I0, the ratchet member 31 is turned by the screw 34 without turning the chart d rum 2.

In this movement, the dogs 42 of the ratchet simply slide over the teeth of the yratchet member 31. On theother hand, when the pressure is decreased either by natural cause or by raising the gauge to a higher level in the well, thepiston I0 and the screw 34 due to the reduction in the pressure move in the opposite direction. In this latter movement, the screw4 34 turns the ratchet member 25 in the opposite direction.` 'I'he chart drum 2 is turned in rotary movement, thus leavmg a. record of the pressure at this particular 1ocation in the well.

Any change from a higher to a lower pressure will produce a record of the high pressure. In-

asmuch as the pressure in the well is of varying intensity, being lower atthe top and higher at the bottom, the lifting of the gauge from a lower level to a higher one will produce a reduction in pressure. Therefore, with this mechanism the raising of the gauge in the well will turn the chart drum 2 and the record of the pressure at any point can Vbe secured any .desired number of times with ease.

ed, made by taklng'a series of lpressure readings Referring to Fig. '7, a type of chart is illustratbetween the top and bottom of a well. The gauge was lowered to the 1000 foot level making the line A-B. Then the gauge was raised in the well to cause a decrease in pressure and turn the chart drum which resulted in the line A-B being retraced to the point C, when the dogs of the ratchet engaged and turned the chart drum 2, making. the line C-D. Then the gauge was lowered to the 2000 foot level making the line D-E. By repeating the above procedure points F and G were made. The distance of the points B, E, F and G from the base line is a measure of the plunger displacement'at the various depths, and by means of a calibration chart these plunger displacements may be converted into pressure.

Referring to Fig. 8, a chart is shown made in the same manner as that shown in Fig. 7, but showing how the points may follow around' instead of being in succession las in Fig. 7. The points were made in the order lettered.

By .the construction described, a subsurface pressure gauge is provided which is extremely simple in' construction, is positive in action, functions to record pressuresindependently of time, is sturdy and sumciently rugged for heavy usage and can be used for producing an unlimited num#- ber ofreadings.

'Various changes may be made within the scope of the appended claims in which it is desired to claim all novelty inherent in the invention as broadly as the `prior artv permits.

I claim:

1. A gauge device, comprising a casing, a recording drum mounted for rotation within the tions in pressure applied to the assembly externally of the casing, an annular ratchet member mounted for rotation within the casing, a turningI screw carried by the piston .and operatively engaging the ratchet member whereby the ratchet member is turned upon variation in longitudinal position of the assembly, and a pawl! carried'by the recording drum in engagement with the ratchet member whereby rotation of the ratchet member in one direction eifects-rotation of the recording drum.

2. A gauge device, comprising a closed recording chamber, a rotary recording drum disposed in the chamber, a piston extending slidably through a wall of the chamber in fluid-tight relation with respect to the wall into the closed chamber, spring means exteriorly of the chamber operatively associated with the piston for yieldingly resisting movement of the piston proportional to the variations in pressure whereby variation in 'fluid pressure exteriorly of the chamber alters the position of the piston, and means -for transforming the movement of the piston in a given direction into rotary movement of the recording drum.

3. A gauge device, comprising a. closed recording chamber, a rotary recording drum disposed in the chamber, a, piston extending slidably through and a ratchet operatively associated with the piston proportional turning screw and the recording drum whereby change of position of the piston in a given direction effects rotation of the drum.

4l. A gauge device, comprising a, closed recording chamber, a rotary recording drum disposed in the chamber, a piston extending slidably through a wall of the chamber in uid-tight relation with respect to the wall into the closed 'chamber, spring means operatively associated with the resisting movement of the to variations in pressre whereby variation in fluid pressure exteriorly of the chamber alters the longitudinal position of the piston, a stylus carried by the piston in engagement with the recording drum, a turning screw carried by' the piston, and a ratchet operatively associated with the turning screw and the recording drum whereby change in position of the piston in a given direction eifects rotation of the drum and a lateral mark on the drum by the stylus.

5. A gauge device, comprising a closed recording chamber, a recording drum disposed in the closed chamber, a piston extending slidably through a wall of the chamber in fluid-tight relation with respect to the wall into the closed chamber, spring means operatively associated piston for yieldingly -with the piston whereby variation in fluid pressure exteriorly of the chamber alters the -longitudinal position 'of the piston,'a turning screw carried by the piston, a ratchet member driven by the turning screw, and a pawl carried by the recording drum. and engaging the ratchet member whereby movement of the piston in one direction effects `rotation of the recording drum.

6. A gauge device, comprising a, closed recording chamber, a recording drum disposed in the closed chamber, a through a wall of the chamber in fluid-tight relation with respect4to the wall, spring means operatively associated with the piston whereby variation in uid pressure exteriorly of the chamber alters the longitudinal position of the piston, a-turning screw carried by the piston, a ratchet member driven by the turning screw, and a pawl carried by the recording drum and engaging the ratchet member operatively to clutch the ratchet member only when the piston is moved out of the closed chamber whereby the drum is rotated.

7. A gauge device, comprising a closed recordl ing chamber, a recording drum disposed in the chamber, a piston extending slidably through a wall of the chamber in fluid-.tight relation with' fluid pressure exteriorly of the chamber alters the position of the piston, Vastylus carried by the piston in engagement with the recording drum adapted to'make a mark extending along the longitudinal axis of the drum, a turning screw carried by the piston, 'a .ratchet member driven by the turning screw, and a pawl carried by the recording drum and engaging the ratchet member to clutch the ratchet only when the piston is moved out of the closed chamber whereby the drum is rotated and a lateral mark is made on the drum.

8. A gauge device, comprising a. casing having a closed chamber and a chamber opening to the atmosphere, a wall separating the chambers, record receiving means disposed in the closed chamber, a piston extending slidably from the open chamber through the wall in huid-tight relation to the wall and carrying a stylus in engagement with the record receiving means, spring piston extending slidably ton whereby variation in iiuid pressure within the open chamber alters the longitudinal position of the piston with respect tothe record receiving means, clutch means operatively associated with the record receiving means and the means associated with the piston for actuating y the 'clutch' means on movement of thepiston in relation with respectto the wall into the closedl chamber, spring means in the open chamber suspending the piston whereby, variation in fluid pressure within the open chamber alters the o i l* means in the open chamber suspending the pis piston, and' position of the piston, and means for transforming the movement of the piston in a given direction into rotary movement of the recording drum.

10. A gauge device, comprising a casing having a closed chamber and a chamber opening to the atmosphere, a wall separating the chambers, a rotary recording drum disposed in the closed chamber, a piston extending slidably from the open chamber through the wall in huid-tight relation with respectfto the wall into the closed chamber, spring means in the open chamber operatively associated with the piston whereby variation in fluid pressure within the open chamber .alters the longitudinal position of the piston, a turning screw carried by the piston, and a ratchet member operatively associated'with the turning screw and the recording drum whereby change of longitudinal position of 'the piston in a given direction effects rotation of the drum.

11. A gauge device, comprising a casing having a closed chamber and a chamber opening to the atmosphere, ai wall separating the chambers, a rotary recording drum disposed in the closed chamber, a piston extending slidably from the open chamber through lation with respect to the wall intothe closed chamber, spring means in the open chamber opthe wall in uid-tight reation in fluid pressure within the open chamber alters the longitudinal position of the piston, a stylus carried by the piston in engagement with the recording drum, a turning screw carried by the piston, and a ratchet member operatively associated with the turning screw and the recording drum whereby change of4 longitudinal position o f the piston in a given direction effects rotation of the drum and a lateral mark on the drum by the stylus.

12. A gauge device, comprising a casing havinga closed chamber and a chamber opening to the atmosphere, a wall separating the chambers, a recording drum disposed in the closed chamber, a piston extending slidably from the open chami ber through the wall in huid-tight relation with respect to the wall. into the closed chamber, spring means in the open chamber suspending the piston whereby variation in fluid pressure within the open chamber alters the position of the piston, a turning screw carried by the piston in the closed chamber, a ratchet member driven by the turning screw, and a pawl carried by the recording drum and engaging the ratchet member whereby longitudinal movement. of the piston in one direction effects rotation of the recording drum.

13. A gauge device, comprising a casing having a closed chamber and a chamber opening to the atmosphere, a wall separating the chambers, a

recording drum disposed in the closed chamber, a

the ratchet member only when the piston is moved out of the closed chamber whereby the drum is rotated.

14. A gauge device, comprising a casing-having a closed chamber and a chamber opening to the atmosphere, a wall separating the chambers, a recording drum suspended in the closed chamber,

I a piston extending slidably from the open chamber through the wall in iiuid-tight relation with respect to the wall into the closed chamber, spring means in the open chamber suspending the piston whereby variation in uid pressure within the open chamber alters the position of the piston, a stylus carried by the piston in engagement with the recording drum adapted to make a mark extending along the longitudinal axis of the drum, a turning screw carried bythe piston in the closed chamber, a ratchet member driven by the turning screw, and a pawl carried by the recording drum and engaging the ratchet member to clutch the ratchet member only when the piston is moved out 'of the closed chamber whereby the drum is rotated and a lateral mark is made on the drum.

15. A gauge device, comprising a casing, a recording drum mounted for rotation within the casing, a piston protruding from the casing and operative to be moved longitudinally into the casing in response toincrease inpressure exteriorly of the casing, a resisting force acting on the piston proportional to the variation in pressure,

l and means connected to the piston and tothe drum to translate longitudinal movement of the piston in a given direction into rotary movement of the drum.

16. A gauge device, comprising a closed casing, a piston mounted for reciprocation longitudinally through a wall'of the casing, means for utilizing variations in pressure exteriorly of the casing to effect longitudinal movement of the piston in a given direction,'means`fo'r yieldingly resisting the movement proportional to the variations in pressure, a recording drum mounted for rotationwhereby variations in fluid pressure exteriorly of the chamber eiect longitudinal movement ofthe piston, a spiral turning screw carried by the piston within the chamber, and a driving connection 'between the screw and the drum whereby longitudinal movement of the turning screw in a given direction effects rotation of the drum.

- 18. A gauge device, comprising a closed record.

ing chamber, recording receiving means disposed in the chamber, marking means includinga piston responsive to variations in pressure exteriorly of the chamber extending slidably through a wall of the chamber in fluid-tight relation to the wall into engagement with the record receiving means, the piston carrying a stylus, spring meansfor yieldingly resisting movement of the piston proportional to the variations in pressure, and

means operatively associated with the record relceiving means and the marking means whereby longitudinal movement of the marking means in one direction effects rotary movement of the rec- Y ord receiving means.

N IVAN Si SALNIKOV. 

